Neville Chamberlain Reflects on Lessons Learned from “True History”

Recent years have seen a lot of discussion about the importance of teaching “true history.” While the sentiment is commendable, it is sometimes misused to advocate for teaching biased versions of American history. It is essential to teach the full spectrum of historical events, both positive and negative.

Even more crucial is the need to convey the nuanced nature of history, which can lead us to reassess old beliefs, ask new questions, and foster greater empathy. Kevin Williamson recently provided a remarkable exploration of this concept in a piece for The Dispatch, focusing on Neville Chamberlain, a figure often remembered solely for his controversial appeasement of Hitler in Munich in 1938.

Williamson’s interest was piqued by Rep. Jared Moskowitz’s proposal to rename Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office the “Neville Chamberlain Room” in a Ukraine aid bill amendment. Williamson criticized this as a “juvenile insult” and remarked that “she is no Neville Chamberlain.”